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3-Day Ndutu Wildebeest Calving Season Lodge Safari

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Green Season
From$1,798
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859
3 Day, 2 Night
Availability : December, January, February & March
Arusha
Ngorongoro > Ndutu Area > Ngorongoro Crater > Arusha
Min Age : 6+
Max People : 6 People per Vehicle
This 3-day lodge safari takes you deep into the Ndutu area, part of the southern Serengeti ecosystem and the greater Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Designed as a comfortable lodge-based safari, it combines wildlife spectacle with relaxation in scenic accommodations. The Ndutu plains are world-famous for the Great Migration calving season (December–March), when thousands of wildebeest give birth daily. This natural phenomenon attracts predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards, creating dramatic wildlife encounters. Starting and ending in Arusha, this safari offers breathtaking landscapes, high concentrations of wildlife, and the chance to explore the iconic Ngorongoro Crater — one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich destinations.
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Tour Highlights

The Ndutu area is known for its excellent migration viewing. Between January and March, the Great Migration will be centered in this area. This short and seasonal safari heads out to Ndutu to explore the great wildebeest migration as they reproduce, with 1000 newborns daily and six species of cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, African wildcat, and serval on the hunt. 

Departure & Return Location

Arusha (Google Map)

Departure Time

7:30 AM

Price Includes

  • Lodge safari according to the itinerary
  • Transportation in a 4 x 4 pop-up roof safari vehicle
  • Professional English-speaking guide
  • Bottled Mineral water per day
  • All national park fees
  • Daily Safari Briefing

Price Excludes

  • Flights
  • Optional Activities
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Visa Fees
  • Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
  • Travel Insurance

Complementaries

  • Free Internet WiFI
  • Atleast 1 pair of binocular
What to Expect

The focus of this safari is on the consideration of the migration time from December to March. Calving usually takes place at this time so expect to see newborns characterized by prey-predator actions.

  • Witness thousands of wildebeest calves being born on the Ndutu plains
  • High predator activity including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas
  • Scenic drive through the Ngorongoro highlands
Itinerary

Day 1 Arusha – Ngorongoro Highlands – Ndutu Area

Your safari begins with an early morning pick-up from your lodge or hotel in Arusha. After a short briefing, depart in your 4×4 safari vehicle toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Enjoy a scenic drive through lush highlands with panoramic views of volcanic landscapes. As you descend toward the Ndutu plains, the terrain gradually opens into vast short-grass plains — prime habitat during the calving season.
 
From December to March, the Ndutu region becomes the nursery of the Great Migration. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather here to give birth. With births happening daily, predator activity is intense and frequent. You will enjoy an afternoon game drive en route to your lodge, searching for:
 
  • Wildebeest herds and newborn calves
  • Lions resting in the grasslands
  • Cheetahs scanning for prey
  • Elephants, giraffes, and abundant plains game
Dinner and overnight at your lodge in the Ndutu area.

Accommodation: Ang’ata Migration – Ndutu Camp

Meals & Drinks

  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

Day 2Full-Day Game Drive in Ndutu – Wildebeest Calving Season

After an early breakfast, depart for a full-day game drive in the Ndutu region. This area lies within the southern plains of the Serengeti ecosystem and offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Tanzania during calving season.
 
The short-grass plains provide nutrient-rich grazing, attracting massive herds. February is typically peak calving time, with thousands of calves born within a short period. Expect dramatic wildlife interactions such as:
  • Lions stalking wildebeest
  • Cheetahs hunting in open plains
  • Hyenas patrolling near birthing herds
  • Large flocks of vultures circling above
You may also explore Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, alkaline lakes that attract flamingos and other birdlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush while surrounded by nature. Continue exploring different habitats, including woodlands and open savannah, before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight. This day offers extraordinary photographic opportunities and unforgettable wildlife moments.

Accommodation: Ang’ata Migration – Ndutu Camp

Meals & Drinks

  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included).

Day 3Ndutu – Ngorongoro Crater – Return to Arusha

After an early breakfast, depart Ndutu and drive toward the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Descend 600 meters into the crater floor, home to one of Africa’s densest wildlife populations. Within this natural amphitheater, you may spot: Black rhinos, Large lion prides, Elephants with impressive tusks, Hippos in freshwater pools, Buffalo, zebras, and gazelles.
 
The Ngorongoro Crater offers excellent chances to see the Big Five within a short time.
After a picnic lunch at the crater floor, ascend and begin your scenic drive back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening. Drop-off at your hotel marks the end of your unforgettable 3-day Ndutu wildebeest calving season lodge safari.

When to go?The Best Time for the Calving Season

The wildebeest calving season typically occurs from late December to March, with peak birthing in February. This period offers:
  • Exceptional predator sightings
  • Lush green landscapes
  • Fewer crowds compared to peak Serengeti months
This 3-day lodge safari is ideal for travelers seeking a short yet wildlife-intensive Tanzania safari experience focused on one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural events.
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